The scent of burning incense wafted from the main hall of the Heavenly Demon Sect. Disciples in clean robes walked proudly across stone pathways, their backs straight, heads held high.
Jin Seo-Won walked among them—but unlike the others, he blended with the shadows.
No one noticed him.
No one cared.
Just like before.
But this time… he was watching.
Observing.
Calculating.
He passed by the central sparring grounds where the younger generation trained under elite instructors. Among them stood Jin Seo-Jin, the second son of the sect leader, wielding a long spear with fluid, aggressive movements. On the side, Jin Seo-Gi of the Poison Clan leaned lazily against a pillar, eyes half-lidded, lips curled in mockery.
> *"They're exactly the same,"* Seo-Won thought coldly.
> *"Arrogant, careless… too confident in the future they think they own."*
His hand tightened into a fist.
Just then, a loud voice broke through the air.
> "Trash like you don't belong here!"
Seo-Won turned toward the sound.
In the corner of the outer courtyard, a young boy with a bruised face knelt on the ground, surrounded by three disciples from the Spear Clan. The boy's uniform was worn and patched, clearly from a lesser family—one of the minor clans struggling to earn a place in the sect.
> "Do-Yoon," Seo-Won murmured.
A flash of recognition stirred in his chest. In his past life, this boy had been bullied to the point of abandoning cultivation. He disappeared before ever graduating from the sect's academy.
But this time…
Seo-Won stepped forward.
> "Hey!" he called out, his voice cold and sharp.
The three disciples looked up, surprised.
> "And who are you supposed to be? Another—"
**CRACK!**
Before the sentence finished, Seo-Won's fist met the leader's jaw. The boy crashed backward, blood spilling from his mouth.
> "What the hell?!"
Another charged at Seo-Won with a wooden staff—but Seo-Won sidestepped, grabbed his arm, and twisted.
> **SNAP.**
A scream echoed across the courtyard.
The last disciple hesitated, then ran without a word.
Do-Yoon stared, wide-eyed, as Seo-Won reached out a hand.
> "Get up," he said. "Don't bow to dogs."
Do-Yoon hesitated, then took his hand.
> "Why… why would you help someone like me?"
Seo-Won didn't answer at first. He simply turned his back and walked away.
> "Because this time… I won't let them trample loyalty again."
---
Later that night, Do-Yoon knocked hesitantly on Seo-Won's door.
> "Let me follow you," he said, bowing deeply. "Please. Let me repay you… even if I die."
Seo-Won looked at him in silence.
> "Fine," he said at last. "But if you follow me, there's no turning back."
> "You'll be walking a path of blood, pain, and betrayal."
Do-Yoon's eyes burned with conviction.
> "Then I will follow behind your shadow until the end, my prince."
---
Far above, hidden in the dark towers of the inner sect, Guardian Baek Ho-Gun watched the courtyard through a crystal orb.
> "The fourth son… has begun to move."
> "The embers have reignited."
---